Spring has arrived and now is the time to start thinking about storing your winter clothing and changing your wardrobe over to warmer-weather clothes. Let A.B. Richards, the leading supplier of portable storage containers in the Northeast since 1982, help you prepare your spring fashion and help you store your winter apparel for the season.
Mobile storage containers are the ideal place to keep your winter apparel, thanks to their convenience, affordability and on-site location. Choose from three sizes – 20ft, 40ft or 40ft jumbo (hi-cube) – to fit your seasonal wardrobe storage needs.
Tricks to Effectively Storing Winter Apparel This Spring
To help you switch out your clothing, prepare yourself for the warm weather of spring and summer, and declutter your closet and other interior storage areas, the portable storage professionals at A.B. Richards have compiled five hacks for successfully storing your winter wardrobe this spring:
- Review, Donate and Repurpose: Take stock of all of your winter wardrobe pieces, including sweaters, sweatshirts/hoodies, coats, gloves, scarves, hats, boots, and shoes. If you haven’t worn a piece all season, then consider donating or repurposing it.
- Wash Everything: Launder or dry clean all of your winter attire, even if it looks clean, to remove any hidden or microscopic food particles, stains, odors, body oils or dirt that might attract unwanted pests. Remove all plastic from dry-cleaned clothing to avoid moisture build-up that might turn into garment-ruining mold and mildew. Invest in clear plastic bins and cotton garment bags or sheets to protect your clothing from dust and dirt. Rolling garment racks and suitcases also work well. Don’t pack items too tightly to let your clothes breathe and allow proper air circulation.
- Fold and Roll Everything: Folding and/or rolling most of your clothing will preserve them much better than hanging them – especially sweaters. If you must hang items, then choose quality hangers that fit the garment. For instance, avoid using thin wire hangers. Use padded hangers for bulky winter coats and jackets. Hang pants and trousers by the hem to avoid creasing and skirts by the waistband using skirt hangers. Utilize hanger loops on dresses, skirts, and blouses to give garments extra support. Use tissue paper to fill shoes and boots and store them in their original shoe boxes or clear plastic boxes. Be sure to label everything.
- Ventilate and Breathe: Your mobile storage containers should be placed on premises out of direct sunlight on even ground to maximize storage space and ensure a cool, dry place for your winter wardrobe. Again, don’t pack it too tightly; your clothes and other winter gear should have room to breathe and you should have room to access everything.
- Guard against Pests: Mothballs are what our parents and grandparents used to keep away unwanted pests. However, a better, more modern way to achieve the same level of protection without the smell and chemicals that could also potentially ruin your clothes is to use cedar or lavender. Cedar oil, shavings or oil, and lavender sachets – or even lemon peel rinds or little bags of fragrant herbs such as lavender, thyme, rosemary or mint – work just as well, have a much more pleasant odor and are non-toxic.
Other Winter Items That Can Be Stored in Portable Storage
Besides heavy winter clothing, mobile storage can easily hold many other cold-weather items that you won’t need until Old Man Winter rears his ugly head again next year. Winter gear that you can easily put away for the season includes:
- Sports paraphernalia such as skis, sleds, and snowboards.
- Bedding such as thick comforters, blankets, throws and flannel sheets.
- Décor such as anything that highlights more wintry colors or themes.
- Equipment such as snow shovels, ice scrapers, salt, and sand.
However, A.B. Richards’ storage experts don’t recommend you store any items that are gas-powered, such as snow blowers and snow throwers.
For more spring storage and spring cleaning tips, additional details about mobile storage renting or leasing options and a complete list of what you can and cannot store inside ground-level storage containers, simple contact A.B. Richards at (800) 597-5971.
Our friendly staff can answer any questions you might have and guide you to the most appropriate on-site storage containers that work for you and your budget.
Sources: HGTV.com and HuffingtonPost.com.
